About MIFA

The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is a national body with state and territory member organisations providing services in all Australian states and territories.

MIFA is a non-government, not-for-profit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organisation dedicated to helping people with serious mental illnesses, their families and friends. Such illnesses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders.

We represent the state-based members of the Mental Illness Fellowship with one consistent voice to the Federal Government; we are committed to advocating for all Australians affected by mental illness to receive services based on need and that policy and legislation address their needs.

As the national body we are proud of bringing together the best elements in each state and territory and sharing those strengths. We collaborate closely with initiatives of our state and territory members and share locally developed innovative programs around the country.

MIFA gives an Australian voice to international mental health networks – we are members of the World Federation for Mental Health and the World Fellowship of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders and we have links with the US National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

While the national body does not provide services, our member organisations in each state of Australia offer vital support, information and advocacy for people with mental illnesses and their carers. Programs include education for people with a mental illness, their families and carers and the community, activity centres and vocational options, psychosocial rehabilitation, respite, residential services, accommodation support, rural and remote services and the latest information about mental health.